The neurofasciocutaneous radial forearm flap in head and neck reconstruction: a preliminary report.
The radial forearm free flap has achieved considerable popularity as a reconstructive technique due to its thin, pliable tissue and long vascular pedicle. The successful use of this flap as a carrier of a vascularized nerve to bridge motor nerve gaps and as a sensate flap has not been previously reported in head and neck reconstruction. The superficial branch of the radial nerve was used as a vascularized nerve graft to bridge a facial nerve defect following radical parotidectomy. The medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerves were used to re-establish sensation in a reconstructed pharyngeal mucosal defect. The published clinical and experimental studies on vascularized nerves and sensate flaps are reviewed in detail.
Urken
M L
ML
Department of Otolaryngology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029.
Weinberg
H
H
Vickery
C
C
Biller
H F
HF
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012677:Sensation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*